(BEAUMONT, Texas) — Buckner Children and Family Services will soon open a transition center to provide a wide range of services for youth ages 16 –25 who are transitioning out of foster care, or formerly in foster care, to work towards independence and self sufficiency.

The name FYI Center: FosteringYouth Independence, was chosen by current foster youth who plan to use the services the Center will offer.

Located in Beaumont at 675 East Virginia, the FYI Center sits on the corner of Virginia Avenue and University Drive, within walking distance of the campuses of Lamar University and Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont.

The Center will primarily focus on foster youth ages 16-25 who live within the Southeast Texas service area and who are:

• Currently in foster care
• Aging out of foster care
• Formerly in foster care but still in need of assistance
• Foster youth on probation or parole
• Foster youth released from a juvenile correctional facility

Services at the FYI Center will focus on education, employment, transportation, housing, mentoring and financial assistance. Buckner will actively recruit mentors for young adults and is developing a collaboration of community agencies and groups to ensure that youth achieve successful self sufficiency.

“Many times, when youth age out of care, the picture is of a lonely young adult facing the world all alone,” said Greg Eubanks, executive director of Buckner in Southeast Texas. “This is not the case with Buckner. We are committed to caring for our children throughout their adolescence and into adulthood. This Center will help facilitate that promise.”

If you would like more information or are interested in ways you can become involved as a donor, employer or mentor, please call Buckner at 409-866-0976.